Olivia Rodrigo Declares Festival 'One Hundred Percent' Political, Tells Critics 'Don't Buy a Ticket'

Grammy-winning singer Olivia Rodrigo stated that her women-focused music festival, Daisy Chain Fields, was "one hundred percent" political and advised critics who disagree with its message to "don’t have to buy a ticket." The one-day festival, held in Irvine, California, featured an all-female lineup including Chappell Roan, Sarah McLachlan, and Stevie Nicks.

Net proceeds from the event were directed toward nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls. Beneficiaries included Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Baby2Baby, and the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. The festival raised a total of $20 million for these charities.

"One hundred percent, yes," Rodrigo told The Hollywood Reporter when asked if the festival was political. "But I think it’s also about joy. I think the two things can exist at the same time, they kind of have to. I think young people have lost hope in our leaders and lost hope in each other. I really wanted to galvanize people and be evidence of what can happen when you come together and are part of something and contribute."

Rodrigo also commented on the festival's inclusivity, stating, "Everyone is welcome to come to Daisy Chain. But if you don’t agree with the message that we’re sending, then you don’t have to buy a ticket."

Daisy Chain Fields was inspired by Lilith Fair, an all-female traveling music festival launched in the late 1990s by Sarah McLachlan, who aimed to increase female representation in the music industry. Rodrigo, 23, expressed concern that women in 2026 have fewer rights than they did in the 1990s, stating, "When Lilith Fair was happening 30 years ago, women in America had more rights, had more autonomy over their bodies."

She added, "I’ve always felt really protective of my young fans, and when I play a show and I look out into the audience and see young girls with their friends or their moms or their families, I feel such a kinship with them. And if I could be a small part in making the world a safer and better place for them to grow up and live, that’s what I want."

Rodrigo recently released the song "Serena Joy," named after a character from "The Handmaid's Tale." The lyrics have led to speculation that the song criticizes former President Donald Trump, though Rodrigo described it as a song about "complacency" and how "an attack on one person’s human rights is an attack on all of our human rights."

Political commentators have offered mixed reactions to Rodrigo's politically charged festival. Podcast host Ben Ferguson criticized the event as "breathtaking hypocrisy of Hollywood," suggesting Rodrigo was treating her audience as "political minions." He argued that telling people who disagree with the message not to attend is "political arrogance wrapped in a concert tour."

Conversely, strategist Kaivan Shroff praised Rodrigo's openness, stating that celebrities who remain silent on current events can appear "inauthentic." He noted that Rodrigo is "making politics part of the art, part of the live show and part of the brand, and at least she is being honest about that and owning it."

Shroff added, "I actually think ‘if you don’t agree, don’t buy a ticket’ is cleaner than pretending the politics are incidental. But there is a tradeoff. The minute you tell people the show itself carries a political message, disagreement with that message becomes part of the consumer experience too. You cannot make politics central to the product and then act surprised when the product gets judged politically."

Film critic Christian Toto echoed concerns about alienating fans, stating, "In these contentious times, getting hyper political and alienating large swathes of your audience is less than ideal."

Rodrigo has previously taken stances against government actions, including condemning the Department of Homeland Security in 2025 for using her song "All-American b----" in a social media post about deportations and criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as "barbaric and cruel."